Lesson 3: Asking About Work and School

工作

Learn how to use 是 and 在 through the topic of work and school.

13 words2 grammar points1 dialogues~13 min

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Vocabulary13 words

都dōuAdverb

all, bothindicates that something covers the whole group

Examples

我们都很好。

wǒmendōuhěnhǎo。

We are all very well.

工作gōngzuòNoun

1.work; jobA noun referring to an occupation or workplace.
2.to workA verb referring to the act of working.

Examples

他的工作很好。

tādegōngzuòhěnhǎo。

His job is very good.

我在公司工作。

wǒzàigōngsīgōngzuò。

I work at a company.

很hěnAdverb

veryAn adverb indicating a high degree.

Examples

我很高兴。

wǒhěngāoxìng。

I am very happy.

看kànVerb

to look; to watch; to readCan be used for watching TV, reading a book, or seeing someone.

Examples

看书。

kànshū。

Read a book.

看电视。

kàndiànshì。

Watch TV.

老师lǎoshīNoun

teacher

Examples

我们的老师很好。

wǒmendelǎoshīhěnhǎo.

Our teacher is very good.

说shuōVerb

to say, to speakcan be used to express speech or a request

Examples

我说中文。

wǒshuōzhōngwén。

I speak Chinese.

说你好。

shuōnǐhǎo。

Say hello.

写xiěVerb

to writeA verb for the act of writing characters or composing text.

Examples

我写汉字。

wǒxiěhànzì。

I write Chinese characters.

请写名字。

qǐngxiěmíngzì。

Please write your name.

学生xuéshengNoun

student

Examples

我是大学生。

wǒshìdàxuésheng.

I am a university student.

学校xuéxiàoNoun

school

Examples

我去学校。

wǒqùxuéxiào。

I go to school.

知道zhīdàoVerb

1.to knowCommon usage, for having knowledge of something.
2.to understandLight sense.

Examples

我知道了。

wǒzhīdàole。

I see. (I understand now.)

你知道吗？

nǐzhīdàoma？

Do you know?

走zǒuVerb

1.to walk; to goOn foot.
2.to leaveTo depart from a place.

Examples

我们走。

wǒmenzǒu。

Let's go.

走路。

zǒulù。

to walk

做zuòVerb

to do; to makeA very broad verb, used for most actions of "doing" something.

Examples

你做什么？

nǐzuòshénme？

What are you doing?

我做饭。

wǒzuòfàn。

I cook.

公司gōngsīNoun

companya workplace or firm

Examples

我在公司。

wǒzàigōngsī。

I'm at the company.

他去公司。

tāqùgōngsī。

He's going to the company.

Grammar

Affirmative Sentences with 'to be'

S + 是 + ...

Use '是' (shì) to link the subject with a noun or noun phrase, expressing 'who is who' or 'what is what.' This is the most basic affirmative sentence structure in beginner Chinese.

她是老师。

tāshìlǎoshī。

She is a teacher.

这是公司。

zhèshìgōngsī。

This is the company.

Sentences Indicating Location with 'at'

S + 在 + nơi chốn

Use '在' (zài) after the subject to indicate where a person or thing is. The location can be a school, company, home, and so on. This structure is often used to answer the question 'Where are you?'

他在学校。

tāzàixuéxiào。

He is at school.

学生在公司。

xuéshēngzàigōngsī。

The student is at the company.

Dialogues

Asking About Work and School

Two old friends meet again.

Linh

你好！你是老师吗？

nǐhǎo！nǐshìlǎoshīma？

Hello! Are you a teacher?

Nam

不是，我不是老师。我是学生。

búshì，wǒbúshìlǎoshī。wǒshìxuéshēng。

No, I'm not a teacher. I'm a student.

Linh

你在哪？

nǐzàinǎ？

Where are you?

Nam

我在学校。

wǒzàixuéxiào。

I'm at school.

Linh

你知道她吗？她做工作。

nǐzhīdàotāma？tāzuògōngzuò。

Do you know her? She works.

Nam

知道。她在公司。她写很多。

zhīdào。tāzàigōngsī。tāxiěhěnduō。

I do. She's at the company. She writes a lot.